Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Hooper.
Hi Jenny, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story really started in February 2024 when I was laid off after almost two decades in the corporate world. At the time, I was really upset and burned out — it felt disappointing, but it also forced me to pause and ask what I actually wanted next. I knew I needed a reset and a new sense of purpose.
During that time, my parents were downsizing her home. My mother used to own a gemstone bead and jewelry shop in the Rio Grande Valley back in the early 2000s, and she still had a large amount of inventory left over. Since I had the time, I offered to help her sort through it — and when I opened the boxes, I was completely blown away. There were thousands of strands of beautiful, vintage gemstones and pearls in every shape and color.
Seeing those beads immediately sparked something in me. My mind started racing, and I had this idea that felt perfect for Austin — creating a jewelry-making experience where people could make their own gemstone jewelry using high-quality, meaningful materials, not just inexpensive beads. It felt creative, community-driven, and personal.
By late August 2024, I launched my social channels and website, and in October I booked my very first event. I started hosting public workshops and private events, and from there it just kept growing — more bookings, more private parties, more community interest.
By March 2025, I decided to expand into selling my own jewelry. I focused on freshwater pearls, but with a modern twist — incorporating personalization and charm bars to make pearls feel fun, feminine, and accessible while still being timeless. From there, I began popping up at boutiques around Austin and eventually partnered with brands like LoveShackFancy and Anthropologie. My jewelry and charm bar are also now available locally at Mazur Boutique, which was truly a huge milestone for me.
This past Christmas, I hit another major milestone by participating in my first large market and having my own mini booth at Trail of Lights, which was incredibly rewarding.
Today, Mother Earth Beads is a combination of jewelry, experiences, and community. My goal is to launch my pearl jewelry online in the next few months while continuing markets, pop-ups, and especially the jewelry-making events. I host everything from girls’ nights and birthday parties to corporate events and bachelorettes — and honestly, that’s my favorite part. Getting to meet people, hear their stories, and watch them create something meaningful is what truly brought me here and keeps me inspired.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, the road has been good. My background in marketing and PR really helped prepare me for owning and promoting my own business. That said, being a small business owner is a lot of work. You wear every hat and there are constant challenges. But it’s been incredibly fun and rewarding so far, and as long as it continues to feel creative and fulfilling, I plan to keep growing it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Mother Earth Beads ?
My previous response has my full story and what I do in detail. But I’d like your readers to know the following:
– If you’re interested in personalizing high-quality pearl jewelry, please follow me and visit one of our pop ups!
– We specialize in gemstone jewelry-making experiences and have a massive charm bar of over 200 charms. We are a mobile business and will come to you for the fun! Create real jewelry that you can design, personalize and treasure for years to come. If you’re doing a brand event, corporate event, girls night, bachelorette, or birthday party, we’d love to be part of your event and create with you.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Hustle, grit, creativity and faith in yourself
Pricing:
- Gemstone Jewelry-Making Events – Start at $35 PP
- Charm Bar Events – Start at $30 PP
- Pearl Jewelry & Charm Bar – Start at $40
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.motherearthbeads.com
- Instagram: @motherearthatx
- Facebook: @motherearthatx
- Other: TikTok: @motherearthatx
